Sahl Hasheesh: Orange Island Trip with Snorkel & Parasailing
A full day on the Red Sea from Sahl Hasheesh: snorkel two reefs at Giftun Island and Orange Bay, fly on a parasail above the water, then refuel with a buffet lunch and unlimited drinks on board.
Overview
Some days are for the sun lounger. This isn't one of them. You board at Sahl Hasheesh with a mask in your hand and a whole stretch of the Red Sea ahead — Giftun Island, Orange Bay, and the open water in between, all waiting to be met.
The moment you go under, the surface world switches off. A reef unfolds beneath you in slow motion — parrotfish grazing the coral, a cloud of silver fish parting around you, the seabed sliding away into deeper blue. An hour disappears without you noticing. If the dolphins are passing, you'll often hear them before you see them.
This isn't an aquarium behind glass. Giftun's reefs are wild and protected, some of the healthiest water in the northern Red Sea — and for a few hours you're simply part of them, small in the best possible way. Then the crew clips you into the parasail, the boat pulls, and you rise: the reefs you just swam become a map of turquoise and jade laid out beneath your feet.
By the time the boat turns back with the sun low over the islands, you've met the Red Sea from underneath and from above in a single day. Lunch is behind you, the drinks kept coming, and the last thing left to do is sit on the deck, salt drying on your skin, and watch Orange Bay glow. You'll leave with the particular quiet of someone who spent the day in the water, not just beside it.
Highlights
- Snorkel two different reefs — Giftun Island National Park and Orange Bay — in one trip
- Rise 40–50 metres on a parasail and see the islands laid out beneath you
- Watch for dolphins in the open water between snorkel stops
- Refuel with a hot-and-cold buffet lunch and unlimited drinks on board
- Park fees, snorkel gear and Sahl Hasheesh hotel transfers all included
- Wind down with sunset over Orange Bay before heading back
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from/to Sahl Hasheesh
- Transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional snorkeling guide
- All entrance fees
- Buffet lunch on the boat
- Unlimited mineral water on board
- Unlimited soft & hot drinks on board
- Free boat Wi-Fi (upon request)
- Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins & life vest)
- Entry to Orange and Giftun Islands National Park
- Entry to the Marina
- Parasailing experience
- Speed boat
Not included
- Gratuities for the crew and guide (optional)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Hotel pickup from outside the Sahl Hasheesh area (available as an add-on)
- Any water sports not listed above
Good to know
- Child price: ages 2-11 · Infants under 2
- Swimwear (worn under your clothes), a towel, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, and a change of clothes for the trip back.
- Basic swimming ability is recommended to get the most from the snorkeling — life vests are provided for everyone.
- Parasailing runs only in calm conditions; on windy days it may be paused for safety. If it can't run when you booked, you can choose to pay for it on the spot another time instead.
- Children are welcome — under-2s travel free and don't take a seat.
- If you're prone to seasickness, take precautions before departure.
- Please use reef-safe sunscreen to help protect the coral.